More overseas Taiwanese are coming home for Taiwan's October 10 National Day than last year, a small but positive sign of ties between the island and its diaspora.

• Around 4,800 overseas Taiwanese are expected, up 800 from last year, with nearly 4,000 already signed up online from 53 countries.
• The jump is credited to younger overseas Taiwanese taking more interest in Taiwan.
• This year's theme is "Taiwan, Together as One," with souvenir tote bags in green, blue and white to signal that party rivalry stops at national sovereignty and security.
• Turnout is still below a decade ago, largely because many first-generation emigrants have moved back to Taiwan for good — drawn by daily convenience and the health system.
• Roughly 60,000 Taiwanese who took Canadian citizenship have returned home, with similar returns from New Zealand and Australia.

Outlook: Registration runs October 5-9, and returning visitors can claim travel subsidies of up to NT$3,000, or NT$4,000 for trips to the east coast.